Growing Zone Guide
New to plants? The single most common question we hear is "will this survive where I live?" The short answer: your growing zone tells you what thrives outdoors, year-round — but it's not a fence. With one simple trick, you can grow a lemon tree in Idaho, a fig in Montana, or an olive tree in Ohio. Here's how it all works.
What is a growing zone?
A USDA hardiness zone is a simple map of how cold your winters get. The country is divided into zones numbered 1 (coldest) through 13 (warmest), based on the average lowest winter temperature in your area. Fruitland, Idaho, for example, sits in Zone 7.
When a plant is rated for "Zones 5–9," it means that plant can survive winter planted in the ground anywhere in those zones. Colder than Zone 5, and an unprotected winter would be too harsh for it to make it through outdoors.
Not sure what zone you're in? Use our Shop by Zone tool — just enter your ZIP code and we'll show you everything suited to your climate.
The good news: you're not stuck to your zone
Your zone only limits what can live outdoors in the ground through winter. But plenty of the most exciting plants — citrus, figs, olives, avocados, and tropicals — don't have to go in the ground at all. Grown in a pot, they spend spring through fall soaking up the sun on your patio, then simply come indoors for the winter. That means a customer in a cold zone can absolutely grow a Meyer lemon — it just lives in a container, not the yard.
How the "patio method" works
It's easier than it sounds. For a cold-sensitive plant like citrus:
- Plant it in a pot with good drainage instead of in the ground.
- Enjoy it outside all spring and summer, where it loves the warmth and sun.
- Before your first hard frost in fall, move the pot indoors — a sunny south-facing window is ideal.
- Water lightly through winter (potted plants rest and need much less), and give it as much light as you can.
- Back outside in spring once nights stay reliably above freezing. That's it — repeat each year.
Many of these plants stay happily potted for years, and a container actually keeps them a manageable size for moving in and out.
What can I grow this way?
Some of our most popular "grow-anywhere-in-a-pot" plants include:
- Citrus — Meyer lemons, limes, kumquats, and oranges
- Figs — sweet, productive, and forgiving in a container
- Olive trees — beautiful silvery foliage, great as a patio specimen
- Avocados and tropical fruit — a fun challenge that rewards a sunny window
How to tell on our site
Look at the growing-zone label on each plant — it tells you both options at a glance. For example:
Zone 4–11 patio / 8–11 outdoors
That means the plant can only stay in the ground year-round in Zones 8–11 — but anyone in Zones 4–11 can grow it as a patio plant, bringing it indoors for winter. So if you see a "patio" range that includes your zone, you're good to grow it. Don't let the outdoor number alone stop you.